This side of the wall.
| The separation barrier wall separating Israel and the West Bank |
Apologies for the lack in posting over the last week but there has been a lot to process and I’ve been trying to find the right words to explain what I’ve seen. There is still a lot more processing to be done and there will be many more updates post-trip once I’m back stateside and have had the time to reflect.
One of the largest lessons from this trip is experiencing occupation.
Living on this side of the wall.
| Graffiti on the wall |
During this past week, we have traveled to Ramallah, Nablus and to Hebron...all cities in the West Bank. These were heavy days, seeing a land under occupation firsthand. Most of our drive was along the separation wall, a clear reminder of occupation. Watchtowers, checkpoints, soldiers with guns along the road...this is traveling through the West Bank. There are even specific, separate roads designated only for Israelis—leading to settlements that are illegal but still there.
Multiple times we were stuck in traffic, sometimes for an extra 45 minutes all because of a checkpoint.
We went to Yasser Arafat’s museum and grave in Ramallah. There we learned more about the history of the conflict and about the life of a man who tried to bring peace and unite the two sides. A man who was believed to be murdered out of hate and fear.
On the way to Nablus we passed the town of Shiloh. In the Bible this was believed to be a meeting place with God. The meaning of the word “Shiloh” means peace.
It is now a Jewish settlement.
These settlements are technically illegal by international law but the government has somehow still allowed them. They are started by the more radically religious Jews who believe that those parts of the land belong to them due to what scripture says. So they began building these settlements to claim the land even though international law and the UN does not allowed it. (I need to read up more about these settlements as its disturbing to me that this is happening and the international community is just standing by...??)
We walked the most abandoned streets of the Old City of Hebron and learned how the Jewish settlers have caused conflict and have forced Palestinians out of their homes in order to take over and build their own homes, schools and businesses.
As one Palestinian man took us down the Old City streets he pointed out a fence-type of wiring above us covering the narrow streets. He said they had to put it up because the Jewish settlers would throw trash, spit and even urinated on them from their houses above.
 |
| The fencing above our heads in Hebron. |
He took us up to his neighbor’s rooftop to see the view. An Israeli solider started shouting at us to go back down. So we quickly did. He and his neighbors couldn’t even stand on their own roof.
In Ramallah and in Bethlehem, we passed refugee camps...refugee camps for Palestinians...in their own land.
The irony.
On a few afternoons after school, Jenny and I have traveled into Jerusalem to explore. It’s quite the trip. Even though the Old City of Jerusalem is only 2 miles away from where we are...we have to travel about 40 minutes because of the wall.
When we get to the checkpoint, all Palestinians have to get off the bus and stand in a line behind a fence. If you have an Israeli or foreign passport/visa, you stay on. I noticed though that the Palestinians just get right back on the bus, no screening or security. So why did they have to get off and stand in a line to wait? When I asked someone, their answer was simply: “to humiliate us.”
And why all of this? The checkpoints, the walls, the barbed wire, the watchtowers?
Because these people are Palestinian.
Occupied in their own land.
It’s not fair.
And why do we turn a blind eye?
I get that this conflict is confusing. I still am confused about it even after studying it for years. It can feel overwhelming and it’s tempting to just throw our hands up and say “not my problem, it’s not my country!” But we need to take notice.
We have a responsibility...
As Americans: the US government gives an incredible amount of support to Israel. They also have made decisions to increase the oppression. This past fall our government pulled all of it’s funding from UNRWA which is the branch of the UN that builds schools, hospitals and other needs for Palestinians. Without the US funding, this branch of the UN is now struggling to supply these needs for the Palestinians and many of its schools and other centers have closed.
I know it is common in some American churches to hear Pastors and other religious leaders encourage the support of Israel based on scripture—(used out of context-to defend their political opinion). Some American Christians have followed this blindly, uneducated of the political situation and unaware of the reality of what is truly happening. Not realizing that there are many Palestinian Christians...their own brothers and sisters being persecuted and oppressed. As Christians we need to see the injustice and we need to stand by those who are being mistreated. This is not the way that God intended the nation of Israel to be.
...I have way more thoughts on this but I’ll save it for another post.
As humans and citizens of the world: we need to protect, support and help each other. Find ways using our own skills to help bring justice. Even if it’s just in educating ourselves and others. Speaking up about injustice can be just as impactful as action. You never know how educating someone on this issue could spur them into their own chain of action.
I’m still processing much of what I’ve been witnessing and learning. Trust me, I’m not an expert in any of this and know that my opinions are not the only ones out there. There are so many other perspectives and views. But now that I’ve seen, I need to share. It’s part of my responsibility to humanity.
What you do with it, is up to you.
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